The Probus Club was formed by the Rotary Club of Kurri in 1985, as a place for retirees to join together to participate in social activities.

Meetings were originally held on the first Tuesday of each month at Kurri Golf Club, which eventually was changed to the second Tuesday of each month at the bowling club.

Meetings involve a guest speaker and morning tea and run from 9.30am-11am.

This month’s guest speaker was Kevin Short, and past presenters include Central Hunter Police crime prevention officer Kel Boak, Doctor To Your Door Ken Evans and Trevor Milgate of Cessnock District Rescue Squad.

The group also gathers on the first Thursday of each month to have tea at the club, and on the fourth Tuesday they have an outing for lunch.

The club started out for men only, but in 2009 it was voted to allow women to join and earlier this year the club elected its first female president, Marj Wotherspoon OAM and first female vice-president Lorraine Aspinall.

Currently there are 51 members of the Kurri club, made up of 22 women and 29 men.

Over the past 30 years, at least 167 people have been members and four of these have been named life members of the club – Bill Johns (24 years), Alec Kidd (30 years), Norm Purkiss (30 years) and George Burgess (24 years).

The first secretary and honorary member of the club Jack Williams (30 years) cut the cake to celebrate the anniversary.